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Aldabrachelys
''Aldabrachelys'' is genus of giant tortoises, including the Aldabra giant tortoise (''Aldabrachelys gigantea'') native to the Seychelles, as well as two extinct species, '' Aldabrachelys abrupta'' and '' Aldabrachelys grandidieri'' known from Madagascar. The genus name derives from Aldabra, a coral atoll in the Seychelles, plus chelys, from the Greek, χέλυς, for "tortoise" or "lyre", since Hermes was the first to invent the lyre from a hollowed out tortoise shell. Naming This name is problematic in that the type specimen actually represents '' Chelonoidis denticulata''; Bour R (2006). "Identity of ''Testudo gigantea'' Schweigger, 1812 and rediscovery of the type specimen". ''Emys'' 13 (4): 12–23. however, this was discussed and petitioned before the ICZNFrazer J (2009). "''Testudo gigantea'' Schweigger, 1812 (currently ''Geochelone (Aldabrachelys) gigantea''; Reptilia, Testudines): proposed conservation of usage of the specific name by maintenance of a designated neot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giant Tortoise
Giant tortoises are any of several species of various large land tortoises, which include a number of extinct species, as well as two extant species with multiple subspecies formerly common on the islands of the western Indian Ocean and on the Galápagos Islands. History As of February 2024, two different species of giant tortoise are found on two remote groups of tropical islands: Aldabra Atoll and Fregate Island in the Seychelles and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. These tortoises can weigh as much as and can grow to be long. Giant tortoises originally made their way to islands from the mainland via oceanic dispersal. Tortoises are aided in such dispersal by their ability to float with their heads up and to survive for up to six months without food or fresh water. Giant tortoises were once all placed in a single genus (often referred to as ''Testudo'' or ''Geochelone''), but more recent studies have shown that giant tortoises represent several distinct lineages that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
The Aldabra giant tortoise (''Aldabrachelys gigantea'') is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and genus '' Aldabrachelys''. The species is endemic to the Seychelles, with the nominate subspecies, ''A. g. gigantea'' native to Aldabra atoll. It is one of the largest tortoises in the world.Pritchard, Peter C.H. (1979) ''Encyclopedia of Turtles.'' Neptune, New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd. Historically, giant tortoises were found on many of the western Indian Ocean islands, as well as Madagascar, and the fossil record indicates giant tortoises once occurred on every continent and many islands with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. Many of the Indian Ocean species were thought to be driven to extinction by over-exploitation by European sailors, and they were all seemingly extinct by 1840 with the exception of the Aldabran giant tortoise on the island atoll of Aldabra. Although some remnant individuals of ''A. g. hololissa'' and ''A. g. arnoldi'' may ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldabrachelys Grandidieri
''Aldabrachelys grandidieri'', or Grandidier's giant tortoise, is an extinct species of tortoise that was endemic to Madagascar. Mitochondrial DNA extracted from subfossil bone confirm that it is a distinct species. Description ''Aldabrachelys grandidieri'' was a giant tortoise, one of the largest in the world, measuring about in carapace length. It was originally one of the six endemic tortoise species of Madagascar (two large '' Aldabrachelys''; two medium '' Astrochelys''; two small ''Pyxis''). It is distinguished from all other '' Aldabrachelys'' by a massive, flattened or depressed carapace, bulging sides of the carapace, short gulars, top of the nasal aperture is higher than the top of orbits, diverging quadrates, broad postorbitals, and a very large processus vomerinus dorsalis. It also had an unusually thick, strong carapace, possibly an adaptation to heavy predation. It seems to have been predominantly a grazer of meadows and wetlands. Extinction Material of this s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldabrachelys Gigantea
''Aldabrachelys'' is genus of giant tortoises, including the Aldabra giant tortoise (''Aldabrachelys gigantea'') native to the Seychelles, as well as two extinct species, '' Aldabrachelys abrupta'' and '' Aldabrachelys grandidieri'' known from Madagascar. The genus name derives from Aldabra, a coral atoll in the Seychelles, plus chelys, from the Greek, χέλυς, for "tortoise" or "lyre", since Hermes was the first to invent the lyre from a hollowed out tortoise shell. Naming This name is problematic in that the type specimen actually represents '' Chelonoidis denticulata''; Bour R (2006). "Identity of ''Testudo gigantea'' Schweigger, 1812 and rediscovery of the type specimen". ''Emys'' 13 (4): 12–23. however, this was discussed and petitioned before the ICZNFrazer J (2009). "''Testudo gigantea'' Schweigger, 1812 (currently ''Geochelone (Aldabrachelys) gigantea''; Reptilia, Testudines): proposed conservation of usage of the specific name by maintenance of a designated neoty ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldabrachelys Abrupta
''Aldabrachelys abrupta'', the abrupt giant tortoise, is an extinct species of giant tortoise that was endemic to Madagascar. Ecology It was a large species, roughly 115 cm in length. It was originally one of the seven endemic tortoise species of Madagascar (two large '' Aldabrachelys''; three medium '' Astrochelys''; two small ''Pyxis Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses). Pyxis was introduced by Nicolas-Louis ...''). It was sympatric with the other giant tortoise species of Madagascar, Grandidier's giant tortoise ('' Aldabrachelys grandidieri'' (also extinct)), and both species occupied both the coasts and the cooler highlands of Madagascar, where they fulfilled the role of large grazers. ''A. abrupta'' was a browser of bushes and low-hanging branches; ''A. grandidieri'' was a grazer of grassy meadows an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldabra
Aldabra, the world's second-largest coral atoll (the largest is Kiritimati), is located east of the continent of Africa. It is part of the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that are part of the Outer Islands (Seychelles), Outer Islands of the Seychelles, with a distance of 1,120 km (700 mi) southwest of the capital, Victoria, Seychelles, Victoria on Mahé, Seychelles, Mahé Island. Initially named by Arab seafarers for its harsh environment, Aldabra became a French colonial empire, French colony dependency in the 18th century, leading to the exploitation of its natural resources, particularly giant tortoises. After passing through British hands, Aldabra faced potential military use in the 1960s, but international protests resulted in its protection. The atoll boasts unique geography, featuring the world's largest raised coral reef and a large shallow lagoon. Aldabra's history involves human impact, including failed agricultural ventures. Post-World War II, con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brazilian Giant Tortoise
The yellow-footed tortoise (''Chelonoidis denticulatus''), also known as the Brazilian giant tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and is closely related to the red-footed tortoise (''C. carbonarius''). It is found in the Amazon Basin of South America. The species name has often been misspelled as ''denticulata'', an error introduced in the 1980s when ''Chelonoidis'' was elevated to genus and mistakenly treated as feminine, an error recognized and fixed in 2017. With an average length of 40 cm (15.75 in) and the largest known specimen at 94 cm (37 in), this is the sixth-largest tortoise species on Earth, after the Galapagos tortoise, the Aldabra tortoise, the African spurred tortoise (''Geochelone sulcata'', typical size 76 cm (30 in)), the leopard tortoise (''Stigmochelys pardalis''), and the Asian forest tortoise (''Manouria emys emys'', typical size 60 cm (23.6 in)). Taxonomy The yellow-footed tortoise is also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ernest Edward Williams
Ernest Edward Williams (January 7, 1914 – September 1, 1998) was an American herpetologist. He coined the term '' ecomorph'' based on his research on anoles. Taxa named in honor of Ernest E. Williams The following species are named in honor of Ernest E. Williams. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . ("Eew", p. 81; "Ernest", p. 85; "Williams, E.E.", p. 286; "Williams-Mittermeier", p. 287). *'' Lygodactylus williamsi'' *''Anolis eewi'' (synonym of '' Anolis planiceps'') *''Erythrolamprus williamsi ''Erythrolamprus williamsi'', Williams's ground snake, is a species of snake in the Family (biology), family Colubridae. The species is found in Venezuela. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q3242059 Erythrolamprus Reptiles of Venezuela Endemic ...'' *'' Strophurus williamsi'' *'' Pelusios williamsi'' *'' Dipsas williamsi'' *'' Anolis ernestwilliamsi'' *'' Phryn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reptile Genera With One Living Species
Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocephalia. About 12,000 living species of reptiles are listed in the Reptile Database. The study of the traditional reptile orders, customarily in combination with the study of modern amphibians, is called herpetology. Reptiles have been subject to several conflicting taxonomic definitions. In Linnaean taxonomy, reptiles are gathered together under the class Reptilia ( ), which corresponds to common usage. Modern cladistic taxonomy regards that group as paraphyletic, since genetic and paleontological evidence has determined that birds (class Aves), as members of Dinosauria, are more closely related to living crocodilians than to other reptiles, and are thus nested among reptiles from an evolutionary perspective. Many cladistic systems therefore redefine Reptilia as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seychelles
Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (; Seychellois Creole: ), is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands (as per the Constitution) in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, Seychelles, Victoria, is east of mainland Africa. Nearby island countries and territories include the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the French Fifth Republic, French overseas departments and regions of France, overseas departments of Mayotte and Réunion to the south; and the Chagos Archipelago to the east. Seychelles is the list of African countries by area, smallest country in Africa as well as the list of African countries by population, least populated sovereign African country, with an estimated population of 100,600 in 2022. Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being encountered by Europeans in the 16th century. It faced competing French and British interests until it came under full British control in the early 19th century. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chelys
The chelys or chelus (, , both meaning "turtle" or "tortoise") was a stringed musical instrument, the common lyre of the ancient Greeks, which had a convex back of tortoiseshell or of wood shaped like the shell. The word ''chelys'' was used in allusion to the oldest lyre of the Greeks, which was said to have been invented by Hermes. According to the '' Homeric Hymn to Hermes'', he came across a tortoise near the threshold of his mother's home and decided to hollow out the shell to make the soundbox of an instrument with seven strings. The word has been applied arbitrarily since classic times to various stringed instruments, some bowed and some plucked, probably owing to the back being much vaulted. Athanasius Kircher (''Musurgia universalis'', 486) applied the name of chelys to a kind of viol with eight strings. Numerous representations of the chelys lyre or testudo occur on Greek vases, in which the actual tortoiseshell is depicted. A good illustration is given in '' Le Antichi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
